UMAPELA si Ang Probinsyano Rep. Ronnie Ong na bigyan ng exemption ang mga animal doctors at payagang makadaan sa mga checkpoint ang pet at livestock emergency.
“Taking cue from the declaration of Agriculture Secretary William Dar that veterinarians should be exempt from the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine,” ani Ong.
Dapat lang umano tiyakin na nakasuot ng tamang personal protective equipment ang mga ito.
“Hindi lang po tao ang nagkakasakit. Pati itong mga pinakamamahal nating mga alagang aso, pusa, ibon at iba pang mga hayop ay maaring magkasakit at nangangailangan ng atensyon ng ating mga vets. We have to treat our vets are part of our frontliners, not just our human doctors,” ani Ong.
Hinimok din ni Ong si Dar na dalhin sa Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases ang isyung ito.
“The social media is abuzz with a lot of complaints of our kababayans who cannot take their pets to their vets because either the clinics are closed or they are being prevented to pass through checkpoints. This is very painful for people who regard their pets as family,” dagdag pa ni Ong.
Sinabi ni Ong na hindi tao ang mga hayop pero maraming tao ang itinuturing sila bilang bahagi ng pamilya.
“I really wish that the task force would clarify this to our people on the ground. Despite the pronouncement of Secretary Dar, it seems to be still unclear to them that veterinarians should be considered as frontliners also. We have to take care of our pets too because they are family,” dagdag pa ng solon.
Hindi rin umano dapat tumigil ang mga beterenaryo at ahensya ng gobyerno upang hindi kumalat ang Asian Swine Fever at Avian Bird Flu.